$250 Watches

How To Find A Great Watch For A Tight Budget

The Best Watches For $250

Seiko and Citizen are the 800-pound gorillas of the $250 price point. They’re big enough to take advantage of economies of scale in manufacturing and, combined, sell millions of watches each year. An added bonus you get with both brands are great bracelets and clasps. This author’s Seiko chronograph is the most comfortable watch he owns.

The Citizen Men's BM6060-57F Eco-Drive 180 (MSRP $250) boasts a titanium case and bracelet, mineral glass crystal and a push-pull crown. It’s a great everyday watch — dressy enough for the office but looks great running to the home center on Saturday. You get the added bonus of Citizen’s Eco-Drive movement, which is powered by energy stored from light exposure.Buy it here.

The Seiko Model SSB047 chronograph (MSRP $250) has a nicely understated stainless steel design that looks as good with a suit as it does with blue jeans and a T-shirt. With this watch, you get Seiko’s precision quartz movement, its proprietary Hardlex glass crystal and a push-pull crown.Buy it here.

In the digital display realm, the Casio Pathfinder PAG240B-2 (MSRP $250) takes you over the hills and through the woods with an altimeter/barometer, thermometer, digital compass, sunrise/sunset data and time, too, all on solar power.Buy it here.

If these four watches don’t trip your trigger, consider similar offerings from other brands, like Victorinox, Suunto, Bulova, Vostok, Orient, Perpetual, Seagull and Croton.

Looking to make a more substantial investment? Don't fear — we've got $500, $1,000 and $1,500 watch guides coming in the next few weeks.